Horn of Africa: long-term peace to come from regional integration, cooperation — UNDP report

The Horn of Africa countries should turn to trade as a solution to persistent conflict and political instability, says a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), that suggests that the lack of intra-regional trade, as well as poor infrastructure, has fueled conflict and violence by perpetuating poverty and a sense of marginalization.
Focusing on the eight regional states – Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda – this sub-regional human development report acknowledges the severity of prevailing challenges in the Horn of Africa, such as destructive conflicts which erupted in parts of the region even while the research was ongoing. The report titled “Enhancing Prospects for Human Development through Regional Integration,” highlights strengthening regional cooperation and integration as key to enhancing the ability of countries in the Horn to leverage resources and address common challenges.
It seeks to demonstrate how regional integration in the Horn of Africa region could significantly boost economic growth, its resilience and stability, accelerating human development and expanding opportunities, especially for the sub-region’s young population. The report also proposes taking concrete steps towards trade liberalization and expansion within the subregion, increasing collaborative management of natural resources and strengthening water, energy and food linkages, as well as adopting measures that can strengthen governance and peace.